Nearly two-thirds of lawyers dread a professional burnout, according to a recent study.
Seventy-three per cent of lawyers are concerned they may burnout due to long hours, according to a recent UK survey.
According to The Lawyer, 58 per cent of survey respondents said that a better work-life balance would make a difference and 50 per cent of respondents said less admin would help their mental health. 42 per cent said higher salaries would do the trick.
The survey, conducted by London challenger law firm Gunnercooke surveyed 1,000 partners, associates and trainees, found that nearly three quarters of respondents might suffer from ‘chronic occupational stress, depression and anxiety’.
Difficult clients and constant interruptions were also leading causes, with lawyers in their 20s the most stressed age group, and lawyers in their 30s were found to be the happiest.
Problematic bosses and strained working relationships were also blamed for the high stress levels.
“The divide between work-life and home-life is becoming increasingly blurred. In these times of austerity, workload has increased across the board and so employees are having to take work home with them, or even on holiday, in order to get everything done. Having constant access to emails on mobiles, laptops and tablets also means it’s difficult for people to switch off from work,” senior psychology lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire Sandi Mann told the Gunnercooke researchers.
“High stress levels among employees should be a big concern for businesses as it could cause backlash – if employees aren’t healthy, the business won’t be either and so it is in an employer’s best interests to ensure and improve the psychological wellbeing of their staff.”
